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Sunday 31 August 2014
Saturday 30 August 2014
Blood and Gold by: Anais Morgan
This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review
by the author.
This is the second in the series. I am normally not a fan of
vampire stories. I don’t like all the blood and gore. I was intrigued by the
first one and the idea of having a blood slave and so I ventured on into
reading the second.
Mary Scott has lived at the convent for many years when she
is kidnapped. The peculiar thing is that the nuns are acting like they know the
people that have come to get her, they are encouraging her not to fight but
just to go with them willingly.
“Mary, you were brought here for a purpose, and now you must
fulfill it.”
She is to become the blood slave for the brothers Solomon
and Cain. Deacon as we recall is still with Betty. She has been found by “The
Order” this is a group whose job it is to find blood slave and therefore keep
the vampires sated and happy and thus not feeding on random humans.
It is a hard life for Mary and she finds herself near death
a few times as Cain overeats and almost drains her. She is allowed to wonder
the building but soon finds out that there really is not chance of escape. When
Solomon discovers that she is a virgin, from then on he refers to as “Virgin”
He plays with her sexually, just enough for her to realize what she is missing
and want more from him.
Unfortunately Deacon is the head of the house and he does
not really appreciate Mary and the feelings that Solomon is having for her. It
because really heated one day as he is physically hurting her, throwing her
across the room, choking her and the only way to get him to stop is for Solomon
to “claim” her. Now no other vampire can have her except him. He is protecting
her. He is falling for her, But is this the life that she wants? She still
yearns to be free? What will the future hold for Mary? For Solomon? and for
Cain? the younger brother who is very rough on all his slaves? Read this story
to find out.
Rebel Roused
Victoria Green and Jinsey Reese
This is the fifth and final segment in Untamed Journey, I think Journey is the proper word to describe this series, because to me it has been a journey of sorts. Each book has featured it’s own cliffhanger of sorts, there was the "her parents" "the misunderstanding with Archer", "Dare’s injuries" and of course the holy crap of all " Ree’s kidnaping." After starting the first one I waited, week by week until the next one came out, so I could quickly devour it, and then again the wait began until finally the series was over and I am done. I have read them all and completed the journey. I have cried, I have screamed and I have laughed along with Dare and Ree as they struggled to calm their individual demons so that they could have their own Happy Ever After.
I often wondered who was worse, her controlling family, the perfect little Stepfords as they tried to control and manipulate her into being what they wanted so that it could benefit them. Seriously what kind of parents ignore a teenage being raped because it was good for them politically? Who constantly belittles their daughter because she won’t go to law school? Always criticizing her choice of clothing, friends or her lifestyle. No wonder she never wanted to speak to them, I would not either.
Then there was his father, who had abused the family for years and was holding murderous secrets over the head of Dare. He was so scared of this man physically and mentally that he would continue to move his mother and siblings around secretly so that they could have a some what normal life. Who would not be scared of a man that orchestrates a bomb and blows up all of Dare’s art. And then he shoots Rex, and kidnaps Ree. Not to give out any spoilers but it was not a pleasant reunion.
It seems that these two lovers have been to hell and back already. I honestly think that it is time for them to be able to strictly focus on themselves and finally be happy. There are still some things that need to be settled. The relationship between both sets are parents will be ended. It will not be the way any one is thinking. Their will be help from unbelievable sources. Jackson the rapist will finally get confronted as well.
Whether or not it is time for their HEA, well that question will only be answered by reading the book. I have loved this series from the beginning. I think Dare and Ree were so very true to life. Their struggles made me love them more. I loved the way that the authors allowed us into the lives of both sets of families as well. I was surprised at the ending revolving around Ree’s family members. I loved it. I thought this series had the perfect amount of emotional crises, intrigue, suspense and plenty of drama and mystery. The sex scenes were smoking hot and there was the right amount of them. This story was truly a love story, a love journey and I enjoyed every page. I would rate this story a 5/5 and if at the end you read the Acknowledgements and see the name Monica- hey that’s ME!!!!
Monday 25 August 2014
Tasty Books Tours- Release Day Book Blast
CASH'S FIGHT by Jamie Begley
Blurb
If
it’s not broke don’t fix it.
That
was Cash’s motto in life, and his life was perfect. He was living
the life of the lieutenant of The Last Riders, and had women at his
beck and call. The only thing he saw himself settling down with in
the future was a twelve pack; certainly not Rachel Porter, who was on
his short no fuck list. Hell, she wasn’t even his type—her tits
were too small, and her mean mouth could shrivel a man’s dick. How
was he supposed to know she was special and worth putting up with
those weed-producing hillbillies? Or was she?
Rachel
had lived her whole life watching Cash break one woman’s heart
after another. He was everything she shouldn’t want; a bad boy
biker with enough sex appeal to make any woman want a night in his
bed. Even her. Heck, he wasn’t even her type—he didn’t know
when to keep his mouth shut, and he lived in a sex club. How was she
supposed to know that he was special and worth putting up with the
biker wars and biker bitches? Or was he?
Author
Info
“I
was born in a small town in Kentucky. My family began poor, but
worked their way to owning a restaurant. My mother was one of the
best cooks I have ever known, and she instilled in all her children
the value of hard work, and education.
Taking
after my mother, I’ve always love to cook, and became pretty good
if I do say so myself. I love to experiment and my unfortunate family
has suffered through many. They now have learned to steer clear of
those dishes. I absolutely love the holidays and my family puts up
with my zany decorations.
For
now, my days are spent writing, writing, and writing. I have two
children who both graduate this year from college. My daughter does
my book covers, and my son just tries not to blush when someone asks
him about my books.
Currently
I am writing four series of books- The Last Riders, The Dark Souls,
The VIP Room, and Biker Bitches series. My favorite book I have
written is Soul Of A Woman, which I am hoping to release during the
summer of 2014. It took me two years to write, during which I lost my
mother, and brother. It’s a book that I truly feel captures the
true depths of love a woman can hold for a man. In case you haven’t
figured it out yet, I am an emotional writer who wants the readers to
feel the emotion of the characters they are reading. Because of this,
Teased is probably the hardest thing I have written.
All my
books are written for one purpose- the enjoyment others find in them,
and the expectations of my fans that inspire me to give it my best.
In the near future I hope to take a weekend break and visit Vegas
that will hopefully be this summer. Right now I am typing away on my
next story and looking forward to traveling this summer!”
Author
Links
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Jamie_Begley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7127521.Jamie_Begley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7127521.Jamie_Begley
Jamie Begley Recommends:
Stand
of Redemption
Stand
Series #2
By:
Cathryn Williams
Releasing
Aug 25th,
2014
Blurb
I’m
Nicholas Brooks.
Everyone
thinks I’m a nice guy, a local fighter who plays by the rules.
I’m
not.
I
killed someone when I was sixteen.
The
women love me, but I use them.
All
except Ria.
However,
to have her, I’ll have to fight for her.
The
pit isn’t for wimps, either. No rules—get the KO.
To
earn redemption, there is always a price.
Author
Bio
Cathryn
Williams is the oldest and only female in a family of four children.
While born on the east coast, she has lived all over the country.
Her father’s job as an engineer caused the family to move
throughout her entire youth. She has spent time in Texas, Idaho, and
Nevada before moving back to the eastern part of the country as an
adult.
It was
during these early years that her love of literature began, starting
with Nancy Drew and growing with the Sweet Valley High series
stories. This passion grew with each book and has caused her to
transition into writing her own stories. Cathryn’s inspiration
stems from a diverse childhood, loving family, and oversized lapdog
Scarlet. When not giving life to her characters, she enjoys
traveling, marathoning TV shows, and spending time with her family.
Tuesday 19 August 2014
SYNOPSIS:
Jordan
Hawthorne thought she had it all until a surprise for her fiancé
turns into losing everything that she ever wanted. She flees her home
in Charlotte, North Carolina to take a new job in the foothills of
the Blue Ridge Mountains and make a new start where her ex-fiancé
can’t find her. Jordan is just beginning to adjust to her new life
in the middle of nowhere when a small town cowboy walks in and
disrupts it all.
Tom
McCloud never had time for a serious commitment, always too busy with
running his grandparents’ farm. Everything changes when he stumbles
upon a broken-hearted city girl and a steamy buzz ignites between
them. But what happens when the city girl can’t stay hidden in the
country for long?
EXCERPT:
His hand caressed my cheek while his gaze flickered between my eyes and my lips. My heartfluttered as it drummed an anxiously hopeful beat. What was happening between us was inevitable,
and there was no stopping the inevitable. Our breath intertwined just as his lips brushed against min.
My body almost lost all will to function as it hummed with need. His eyes found mine again as if
seeking permission to continue.
I
wasn’t about to stop him. He leaned into me once again. I responded
with a passion, a hunger.
My
arms wrapped around his neck, dropping the bottles of beer onto the
rug-covered floor. He pulled me flush against his body, and my
fingers instinctively laced through his brown hair. My tongue swept
against his lower lip; his gently massaged mine. The arms that
wrapped around me engulfed me in a heaven that I never wanted to
leave. My inner desires pooled within as a moan rose up, but I didn’t
know if it came from him or me.
As
much as I didn’t want to, I broke the kiss, and as we both inhaled
deeply, he rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “Did you
feel that?”
My
body strummed with desire as my heart thumped an erratic beat. I
exhaled slowly as my eyes remained closed, and I whispered, “Yes.”
HISTORY
Have
you always wanted to be a writer or was this something that just sort
of happened?
During
my life, I always wondered what I wanted to be when I grew up. The
occupations went from being a teacher to being an astronaut. We had a
career day when I was seven. I dressed like a teacher and carried a
child’s size briefcase full of pencils. By the end of the day, I
was pencil salesman. Needless to say, I had no clue what I wanted to
do with my life. When I entered college, I was torn between business
and law. I graduated in History with no shot at law school. I
realized early on in college that I liked beer and enjoyed beer pong
and flip cup too much. Now, I actually work for a law firm in the
accounting department. I realized here that I could never be an
attorney. I don’t think I’m built for that occupation. I also
hate to fly. So, being an astronaut is also out of the question. Oh,
I actually did sales for a short time. That was horrible. I was a
teacher for one year … disaster. Those poor children.
Essentially,
I’m a History major that works in accounting … and I write
romance novels.
How
in the hell did that happen?
One
day while I lived in the country, the hubster and I hit your every
day chain restaurant. I was telling him about a book my sister let me
borrow, and I don’t know how it happened, but I said, “I want to
write a novel. A historical novel!” He continued eating, but I came
up with an idea and I tried to research for it. Well, the research
was harder than I thought and I had no clue where to start. I never
did write that story, but I still filed away those mental notes on it
for a “one day” sort of thing.
A
few years went by, I moved back to the city, and I continued reading
like any self respecting woman should do. A friend introduced me to
Harlequin and I got wrapped up in the world of romance. My sister
then loaned me another book. After I finished, I had a conversation
with myself and I said, “There’s no reason why I cannot write a
story.”
So,
this is where it just
happened.
The hubster went fishing one day and I stared at a blinking cursor. I
typed a sentence. Then, I typed a paragraph. Then, a whole chapter.
I’ll
be damned. I wrote a chapter. 39,000 words later I wrote the Greatest
American Novel!
No.
Not really, but I had done it. And it all just happened … it also
expanded to 70,000 words over the course of two more years.
The
teacher, astronaut, business woman, attorney ended up writing a love
story about a cowboy and a city girl.
I
always knew that the profession didn’t matter as long as I did my
best. I still work in accounting. Even though I would love to live by
my pen, I still need to pay the bills.
I
never dreamed of being a writer. I guess I am one. I couldn’t be
happier with the places life sent me, even if I just imagined them in
my head.
Jordan Hawthorne is excited. She has just completed her last
exam and is heading home. She has landed her dream job and is going home early
and will be able to surprise her fiancé. All is good in her life. Unfortunately the surprise the she gets when
she arrives home is not a good one. Her perfect life is now over, the cheating
fiancé is no more, the dream job no more and she is running away to start over.
She accepts a job in a small town of Blue Ridge Mountains and tries to start over.
The people her are a little slower and she slowly fits in. She makes new
friends. Aunt Ethel runs the Inn where she is
staying and is very welcoming. Her nephew Tom is the general handy man and
after an embarrassing afternoon when he catches her naked in the tub he has
come to fix, they too become friends.
Soon a little bit more than friends. It is a beautiful relationship as
they watch fireflies in the night sky.
Soon however her idealic life is going to get a rude
awakening as her ex-fiancé Ryan is spotted walking around town. He is asking
questions about Jordan ,
where she works and where she lives.
This was a beautiful low key love story. The characters were
well thought out and easy to love. I felt that will the slower pace country
town, the characters were more real to life. I effortlessly connected with
them. The author does a great job keeping the suspense with the spottings of
Ryan going on. How easily he is able to sit down and have a beer with Tom as
the local bar. Very scary. Will he be able to come into contact with Jordan ? We know
that he has a history of violence, is Jordan in danger? These are very
serious questions, they all need to be answered and the only solution is to
read the story. I would rate this story a 5/5. I loved it. It was a truly
beautiful read.
Sunday 17 August 2014
Synopsis:
After an accident lands Zoey in the hospital, her life, once again, takes a turn in the wrong direction.
Andy starts acting differently and won’t talk to her about what is bothering him. He’s distant and broody, and the closer it gets to Zoey’s upcoming vacation, the more unsettling Andy’s behavior becomes.
Once Zoey leaves for vacation, life doesn’t get any easier for her, until she begins to volunteer at a local horse ranch. There she meets Josie, a former therapist, who spent her career helping orphans. While she is working at the ranch, unbeknownst to her, Josie is helping Zoey better herself and heal.
Zoey and Andy both realize they have issues from their troubling pasts that need to be dealt with during the month that Zoey is gone, and they agree to work on them. By the time she comes home, they’ve both succeeded at putting their previous tragedies behind them and are looking forward to their future together.
On what should be the happiest day of their lives, Andy is completely blindsided by disturbing news from his past. While Andy is away and trying desperately to find out if the information he’s received is true, Zoey suspects a life changing situation that could either ruin her and Andy, or make them completely whole.
Can their relationship survive Andy’s devastation, or will their lives fall apart forever? Will Zoey find it within her newfound strength to hold them together?
We met and fell in love with Andy and Zoey in The Reason.
They were such a beautiful young couple that were so much in love. Each had
their share of bad luck in their past but we were hoping for a happy ever after
for them. Zoey needs to spend some time
in the hospital after a horrible accident and Andy is by her side her entire
stay. It is evident how much he cares for her.
Zoey has had a trip schedualed for a while to visit family
and she decides that the break will be good for her. During this time she meets
a lady who works with horses while using them for therapy and Zoey spends a lot
of time helping her out and in the process heals some of her emotional scars
from her marriage. She and Andy communicate frequently and they are eager to
get back to one another again. Zoey is eager to get on with her life and her
love for Andy.
Unfortunately, things never go as planned and there are
still some hurdles for these two young lovers to deal with. Unforeseen
complications arise and make both of them truly question what they want out of
live and the importance of issues that they have always believed in.
It is a heartrending and sometimes heartbreaking journey. I
did not see this coming. I was certainly very shocked. Only time will tell what
the outcome will be. Whether they are strong enough to cross this hurdle?
Whether their love will continue to hold true or whether this latest crisis
will tear them apart. I am hoping that the answers will all be revealed in the
next segment of the journey. I would rate this story a 4/5.
Saturday 16 August 2014
Black Dog Nights Trilogy
Ren Monterrey
This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest
review. It is the first in a trilogy and each story is roughly eight pages
long. This story line had been done before but the synopsis and covers grabbed
my attention and I decided to give it a chance.
All I can say is WOW, this was a very fresh, quirky read
that flowed effortlessly from page to page. So much so that when I finished the
first segment, I was shaking my head in disbelief, there was no way, I thought
I could have possibley read it already. I was aching to go and and thankfully
had the next one at my fingertips. I confess I read all three in one evening. I
had to. I needed to.
Twenty one year old Rose Collins has just finished college
and has a Degree from the Chicago Academy of Arts and Design, no job and a very
large student debt when she meets a girl at a bar that passes her a card for a
new opportunity, to join The Club where wealthy men pay to have girls at their
beck and call.
Jae Rothko is a well known artist who purchases the services
of Rose. His wants and needs are simple and he is paying a lot of money for
them.
“I want access to your body. That’s all, whenever and
however I want it."
They soon are having sex frequently and wildly. The arrangement
is financially wonderful for Rose who has never had access to this kind of
money, but soon she realizes that there are some bad points as well.
“I guess I didn’t realize how high the price actually was.”
Will the lure of the money be enough for Rose or will it be
too hard on her heart? Will the cold hearted Jae ever loosen up to be able to
express some emotions? Book Two is nearby and may shed some answers. I would
rate this story a 5/5 and higher if I could.
Black Dog Nights: Part Two
This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest
review. This is the second in this Trilogy and I was hooked in the first
segment and this part just continues to real me in.
We were introduced to Rose Collins who had a lot of student
debt and has accepted a position as a “companion” to well know artist Jae
Rothko whose only requirements is that he is to have access to her body
whenever and however he desires. Jae is turning into quite the possessive lover
and he is trying to make her quit her job so that she is always available to
fulfill his needs. He continues to deposit outrageous amounts of money in her
bank account in order to keep her happy.
He is introducing her to the kinky side of love and they
play around with blindfolds, bondage and ice cubes.
Jae seems to be falling quite hard for her and says.
“I’m never going to leave you. You will always be mine.”
Throughout both stories so far he has never kissed her on
the lips and Rose makes this a condition before agreeing to further this
relationship.
“I want you to kiss me.”
I found this story as quick moving and attention captivating
as the first part. Thankfully I also have the final installment; I would
recommend having all three close by. I would rate this story 5/5.
I find reviews for the third part of a trilogy challenging
to write. As a reader I sometimes skim reviews before reading to get a better
idea of the story line. With a trilogy it is difficult because I don’t want to
give away too many spoilers.
Jae, the wealthy artist has fallen for his “bought”
companion, he is head over heels, showering her with gifts and money and
exhibiting a lot of possessive qualities. Rose thought she could do the sex
without emotions part of the deal but finds that that is not so, she is quickly
findings that she has a deep emotional commitment to Jae, but his possessive
and secretive past is sometimes too much for her to handle..
Then there is Rocky, the perfect guy from her past, who has
appeared suddenly and seems to be desperately in love with her, also making an
appearance is Felicity, the girl for Jae’s past.
There are a lot of things that come to head in this final
segment. The author has managed quite effectively to capture our attention in
the first two parts and I as a reader was eager to devour the conclusion. I was
not disappointed; it cleared up any outstanding questions. It made me love the
characters even more, if that was possible. It reached a conclusion. HEA or
not, well that is not for me to say. The other great thing about this book was
the attention to some of the secondary characters that leads the way, I am
hoping for another set of stories. I would love to read more about the girls
that work for “The Club” and the men that find the need to use their services.
I would rate this story a 5/5. I enjoyed every page from the first part to the
end of the third part. The characters had depth, the sex was hot and frequent,
there were some quirks to the sex which totally captivated me, and the story
had a great plot. I loved it all.
Thursday 14 August 2014
Owning Her Innocence
By Alexa Riley
Synopsis:
William
Darkling is a successful, sexy older bachelor with the world at his feet but
he’s missing the one thing he needs more than anything.
Haley has just turned eighteen and is
ready to learn about love and shed some of her innocence. After a traumatic
birthday party, she wakes up tied to a bed at the mercy of the person she
trusts most.
Haley has always been his pet, but
now William wants more. He wants to to love her as every Daddy should love
their little girl
Warning: There is sweetly sexy,
explicit dirty fun inside this short novella. Along with DD/LG play.
Book Links:
Author Bio & Links:
I’m Alexa Riley! Mom, wife, and business woman by
day and smut writer by night. I specialize in the Dirty Date Night reading. I
wrote my first book, Owning Her Innocence, because well, I just couldn’t find
any daddy books to my liking. So I sat down and just started writing, bringing
the fantasies I find myself often dancing to in the dark of night to life, one
page at a time.
Alexa Riley is my alter ego. I can’t let the other
soccer moms know what I’m up to or the guys at work for that matter. Little do
they know that they’ve got nothing on my dirty talk.I’m here to give you a quick fix of filthy dirty
smut. Got a few hours to kill? Then I’m what you’re looking for.
Website:http://alexariley.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/_AlexaRiley
Tumbler: http://authoralexariley.tumblr.com/
Excerpt:
"Daddy,"
Haley whispered and I knew she was blushing. My shy little girl was back and it
made me feel 10 feet tall. I felt like a beast, and that lack of control had my
cock continuing to weep in my pants. I glanced up at her and gave her a half smile.
"Daddy needs
one more taste. I need my little girl’s kitty juice on my face while we
relax."
"Okay,"
she whispered. Again with that goddamn whisper.
I pushed her thighs
apart and she thrusted her hips forward just an inch. She knew what was about
to happen was going to feel good, but she was embarrassed by how much she
wanted it.
"Push that
kitty into Daddy's mouth, Haley. Let me see how much you want it."
With a little moan
she spread her legs a bit farther and arched her back to get that sweet cunt
closer to my face. I died at the sight of her horny pussy dripping with cream.
I ran my hands up
her thick thighs and round stomach. Haley is round everywhere and I
couldn't get enough. She had a little roll at the bottom of her belly and I bit
it as my hands made their way to her tits. They overflowed in my large palms
and I kept tonguing her belly while I rolled her nipples in my fingers. Her
hips began to thrust in the air rhythmically, trying to get off without
anything touching her down there.
My little girl was
so greedy.
I lowered my head
and began to suck on her puffy pink pussy lips. I drew the whole of one side
into my mouth and let it out with a pop. I did the same to the other side, and
fuck me, I saw the cream running down her legs. Her virgin pussy was just
flowing with juices that I couldn't wait to lick up.
Haley was turning 18 and not liking the direction her life
was heading. Her father has painted her bedroom blue, and gotten rid of her
little girl accessories. She feels that her very character is in question, she
is not sure that she is ready to grow up, to be an adult.
After a close call at her eighteenth birthday party she
finds herself at the home of long time family friend, William Darling. He has
been her father’s best friend for years and has been almost a part of the
family. But for the last few years his feelings have not been on the family
side and he has kept his distance from her.
After her party, he strips her down and ties her to his bed.
It is time for him to confess where he wants this relationship to go now. He
saw in her behaviour of the evening that she might not be anxious to be a grown
up and he is willing to bet she would like to be his baby girl, his special
little girl, someone that he can love and cherish forever just like a Daddy
would.
This is a short novella but it does manage to pack quite a
literary punch. If you are interested in age play at all then this book will be
sure to delight you. It was a face paced read with plenty of action. There is
definite love between the two characters and this is evident as he introduces
her to the world that he wants her to be a part of.
Monday 11 August 2014
Synopsis:
My student loans are due and I still haven’t found a
job that pays more than minimum wage. So I decide to make an
arrangement through The Club. I’ll get what I need…money to pay
my loans. And he’ll get what he wants…access to my body…whenever
and however he wants it.
ROSE COLLINS is a recent art school graduate with
overwhelming student loan debt and no way to pay it.
JAE ROTHKO is a wealthy and renowned artist who doesn’t
have the time or patience for a relationship
ae joins The Club so he can have one woman when he wants
and how he wants with no attachments and no expectations.
He selects Rose to be that woman.
BLACK DOG NIGHTS is a SERIAL NOVEL, which unfolds in
THREE PARTS (approximately 80 pages each). EACH PART has a
CLIFFHANGER and EACH PART is .99 cents. (That’s $2.97 for ALL THREE
PARTS.)
Meet the Author:
Ren Monterrey lives in a small town outside Phoenix,
Arizona with her husband and their bloodhounds. She writes New Adult
and Contemporary romance under a number of different pen names.
Social Links:
Excerpt:
By the time we get to
The Rock Stop, the dance club is already crowded with
twenty-somethings who all look eager to hook up with anyone who’s
willing.
Two guys, who are
already half-drunk, gawk at my breasts as I walk by. I wish there was
another feature of my anatomy that garnered as much attention as my
mammary glands.
I breathe a sigh of
relief when I hit the relative safety of the bar area.
“What do you want to
drink?” Cali yells over the loud Top Forty music.
“Would I look too
conspicuous just holding a glass of water?”
She purses her lips at
me. I tell her she looks like a duck when she does that but it
doesn’t stop her.
“I’ll get you a
beer. You don’t have to drink it but I don’t want you to
embarrass me, or yourself.”
“Yes, Daffy,” I
tease.
“I do not have duck
lips,” she insists.
“You do when you
pucker them like that.”
“I think you’re on
crack.”
“Just get the beer.”
She waves in order to
get the bartender’s attention but no such luck. He’s busy with a
group of girls at the other end of the bar.
“Hey, Babe.” An
arm reaches over Cali’s shoulder. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you
tonight.”
David nods in my
direction. “What’s up?”
He never addresses me
by my name even though he’s been hooking up with Cali for over a
year and I’ve seen him dozens of times.
David is the kind of
guy I always hated in high school. His family has money and he’s
never had to work a day in his life for anything. Cars, clothes,
expensive vacations, you name it, and his parents have handed it to
him on a silver platter. As a result he has a sense of entitlement
that knows no bounds.
No doubt that’s why
he feels like he can treat Cali any way he pleases and she’ll just
keep coming back for more.
He runs his fingers
through his short brown hair. I’m not sure whether it’s a nervous
habit, or if he thinks that his fingers are like some kind of comb,
but he does it all the time.
David is a
good-looking guy in a frat-boy kind of way. Cali says he played
baseball in high school, and he looks like he probably still plays
sports. He’s not huge, but he’s definitely in good shape.
Cali met him at a frat
party. Even though she’s never set foot in a college class she’s
spent a lot of time at college parties. David likes to brag about the
fact that he’s a business major. I don’t see what the big deal is
though. I feel like business is a major for people who don’t really
know what they want to do with their lives.
Not that I have any
room to talk. Apparently I earned a degree for people who don’t
really want a job.
Before I know it, Cali
and David have disappeared somewhere and I’m alone at the bar.
Great.
I didn’t even want
to come here in the first place.
I have a choice. I can
leave or I can order a drink. After the day I’ve had a drink is
actually starting to sound appealing.
As soon as the DJ
starts mixing, nearly everyone moves to the dance floor. The bar area
is now pretty empty except for a young woman seated at the far end.
She glances up at me when I approach and gives me the faintest of
smiles.
She’s an attractive
blonde with stunning ocean blue eyes. She’s the definition of a
blonde bombshell. She’s got curves that would give Marilyn Monroe a
run for her money.
I order a Crantini and
the bartender wastes no time filling my order.
“Tough day?” the
blonde asks.
I nod.
“Have a seat.” She
points at the stool next to her.
“Thanks.”
I climb onto the stool
and take a sip of my drink. It’s strong and I cough a little as it
goes down.
“Russ likes to make
them strong.” She laughs. “Maybe he thinks he’ll get lucky at
the end of the night.”
The bartender, who
looks like he’s in his mid-thirties, is completely bald and built
like a brick house. Definitely someone I would want to have on my
side if a fight broke out.
“Are you waiting for
someone?” I ask. She looks a little too dressed up for the place
we’re in. It’s mostly a denim crowd and she’s in a little black
dress and pumps.
“You could say
that.”
I nod. A cryptic
response, but I get the impression that she’s not going to say much
more about who she’s
waiting for.
“So what’s your
story?” she asks.
I laugh. “Do I look
like I have a story?”
“You definitely look
like you have a story.”
“You’ve probably
heard it a million times before.”
She glances at her
watch. I can’t help but notice it’s a gorgeous Rolex. The blonde
doesn’t look that much older than me. I doubt she’s even
twenty-five. It makes me wonder how she can afford such an expensive
watch. When I look at her more closely, I notice she’s also wearing
a diamond tennis bracelet and huge diamond stud earrings. Also very
expensive.
Maybe she’s like
David and has a generous daddy with lots of money.
“I’ve got a few
minutes before my friend gets here. Tell me this story I’ve heard a
million times before.”
I take another sip of
my drink. She’s right. Russ does like to make them strong.
“I recently
graduated from art school. I have a fine arts degree but no
professional job and no prospects. My student loans are set to go
into repayment and I have no way to pay them. I’m barely making
ends meet on my salary busting my ass at the local coffee shop.
Pathetic, right?”
She shakes her head.
“It’s not pathetic, but you’re right, it’s a story I’ve
heard a lot. Maybe not a million times. Half a million tops.”
We both laugh. It
feels good to laugh about it. At least for one night.
She reaches into her
purse, a pricey Coach bag, and pulls out a business card. I expect
her to hand it to me but she places it on the bar between us instead.
“I don’t do this
very often but I feel bad for you, so I’m making an exception.”
She points to the card. “You can pick it up if you want to, after I
tell you what it’s about. Or you can leave it on the bar. It’s
completely up to you.”
My curiosity is
definitely piqued. When I glance down at the card I notice it only
has two words: The
Club
followed by a phone number.
“What’s The Club?”
“It’s a kind of
dating service.”
I frown. “Do I look
like need a date?”
“No, but you said
you need money. This is a special kind of dating service for
extremely wealthy men.”
I assume that’s how
she got her Rolex and other jewelry, but I don’t want to be rude by
asking. “Are you saying it’s kind of like having a sugar daddy?”
She laughs. “That’s
kind of an antiquated term but sort of. Most of the men in The Club
are older and they have very specific tastes. Most of them want
younger women, but more importantly, they want women who will be
there whenever and however they want.”
I gulp. Then I
whisper. “Are you talking about prostitution?”
She gives me a little
smile. “Prostitution implies that you’re with multiple men and
they’re paying you for sex. It’s not like that. It’s more like
you’re being paid to be one man’s mistress.”
“Are they married?”
She laughs. “Some
are. Some aren’t. Does it matter?”
“I think it would to
me.”
“Why?”
It’s a good
question. I’m not married. He’d be the one doing the cheating.
“Do you mind if I
ask how much money you’re talking about?”
“That’s negotiable
between you and the man who selects you. It’s called an
arrangement. You can negotiate any sort of arrangement you want.”
“Could you give me a
ballpark figure?”
“Usually between
three and five thousand a month.”
My eyes grow wide at
the thought of that kind of money. My salary at the coffee shop, even
with overtime and tips, doesn’t come close to that.
“And that doesn’t
include all of the perks. A lot of the men like to provide their
girlfriends with generous gifts in addition to their arrangement.”
“You said a lot of
the guys are older. How old?”
An image of a
geriatric using a walker crosses my mind. I’m not sure I’d be
able to have sex with someone that old, if he could still even have
sex.
“The guy I have an
arrangement with is fifty-four.”
That’s ten years
older than my dad. I can feel my stomach churn. Am I really
considering getting involved with some kind of club and being paid to
have sex with a guy who could be older than my father?
The blonde leans in
close. “Don’t let his age fool you. He can still perform in bed.
And I only have to see him two days a week for a few hours. And my
arrangement is non-exclusive. He doesn’t mind if I date other
guys.”
“I don’t really
date that much,” I confess.
“That’s even
better. There are a lot of guys who want exclusive arrangements. Not
many girls will commit to that.”
I stare at the
business card for a few seconds. Is this something I’m actually
considering? I’m just not sure. There’s no doubt that I need the
money but I’m not sure about having sex with someone I don’t even
know…for money.
“It’s really not
that bad,” she insists. “I wasn’t sure at first either but you
get used to it. And Alex can be a really sweet guy.”
She makes a point of
pushing the business card a little closer to me. “At least meet
with Claudia. You can always back out if a guy selects you and you
don’t like him.”
I pass my hand over
the card and hesitate for a moment. I feel like this is a pivotal
moment. Like my whole life could change just by picking up the card.
I take in a deep
breath then grab the card from the bar. Now that it’s actually in
my hand I feel like calling the phone number is inevitable.
“Tell Claudia that
December sent you.”
My eyes widen and I
can’t help the look of surprise on my face. “Your name is
December?”
She laughs. “It’s
my real name too. And I wasn’t even born in December. My birthday
is November 28. I was an early arrival. But my parents already picked
out the name and they really liked it.”
She holds out a hand
for me to shake. “December Reynolds.”
“Rose Collins,” I
reply as I shake her hand.
“Claudia just
accepted several new members into The Club and she’s looking for a
few more girls. I think she’ll really like you. You’re cute and
classy.”
I’m not sure whether
to take that as a compliment. “Thanks,” I say anyway.
December looks at her
watch. “I’ve got to split. I’m supposed see Alex in a few
minutes.”
She hops down from her
barstool then reaches into her purse, grabs two twenties and throws
them on the bar. The drinks here aren’t cheap but they’re not
that expensive. “The Crantini is on me. I’m sure I’ll see you
around. Give my best to Claudia.”
Before I have a chance
to respond, December is hurrying out the door.
This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest
review. It is the first in a trilogy and each story is roughly eight pages
long. This story line had been done before but the synopsis and covers grabbed
my attention and I decided to give it a chance.
All I can say is WOW, this was a very fresh, quirky read
that flowed effortlessly from page to page. So much so that when I finished the
first segment, I was shaking my head in disbelief, there was no way, I thought
I could have possibley read it already. I was aching to go and and thankfully
had the next one at my fingertips. I confess I read all three in one evening. I
had to. I needed to.
Twenty one year old Rose Collins has just finished college
and has a Degree from the Chicago Academy of Arts and Design, no job and a very
large student debt when she meets a girl at a bar that passes her a card for a
new opportunity, to join The Club where wealthy men pay to have girls at their
beck and call.
Jae Rothko is a well known artist who purchases the services
of Rose. His wants and needs are simple and he is paying a lot of money for
them.
“I want access to your body. That’s all, whenever and
however I want it.”
They soon are having sex frequently and wildly. The
arrangement is financially wonderful for Rose who has never had access to this
kind of money, but soon she realizes that there are some bad points as well.
“I guess I didn’t realize how high the price actually was.”
Will the lure of the money be enough for Rose or will it be
too hard on her heart? Will the cold hearted Jae ever loosen up to be able to
express some emotions? Book Two is nearby and may shed some answers. I would
rate this story a 5/5 and higher if I could.
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